theathleticuk
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander saw his NBA-record streak of 20-point games snapped at 141 on Thursday night, finishing with just 17 points in a matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
The remarkable run, which began on November 1, 2024, with a 30-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers, spanned 720 days and stands as the longest such streak in league history.
Earlier this season, on March 12, Gilgeous-Alexander eclipsed Wilt Chamberlain's 63-year-old record of 127 consecutive 20-point games, a mark set between 1962 and 1963. He achieved the feat with a 35-point outburst in a 104-102 victory over the Boston Celtics.
Following that historic performance, Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized to NBA on Prime Video sideline reporter Cassidy Hubbarth that winning mattered more than the record. "If we lost, I would've been pissed," he said. "I would've given up the record for the W any day of the week. So, I'm glad we won and I got the record."
Before breaking the record, the guard had tried to downplay its significance. "It's still a lot to even wrap my head around," Gilgeous-Alexander said after tying Chamberlain a few days prior. "To be honest with you, I try not to even think about it, especially during the season. So much is going on, and so many things have to go right for you to get what you ultimately want. But obviously, being in the conversation with a guy like (Chamberlain) is special."
The streak did not include playoff games, and the two-time MVP has recorded six games with fewer than 20 points during the Thunder's last two deep postseason runs.
Since the 2022-23 season, Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the league's most consistent elite scorers. He is one of only four players in NBA history to average 30 or more points for at least four consecutive seasons, joining Chamberlain (seven seasons), Michael Jordan (seven) and Oscar Robertson (four).
"I don't know that people know how hard it is to do that," Nikola Jokić said when Gilgeous-Alexander tied the mark against the Nuggets on March 9, 2026. "To make 20 points in 10 (straight) games, not 120, whatever it is, it's special. He's a special player."
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, a four-time NBA scoring champion, had long been praised for his efficient scoring night in and night out. His 72-game 20-point streak between 2015 and 2016 was the previous record among active players. "He's just been out of this world the past four or five years, especially scoring the ball," Durant said of Gilgeous-Alexander in March. "I love players who care about leaving their mark in the history books. You can tell Shai cares about it. Obviously, he's a team-first player. But you can tell he wants to be great. He wants to be considered one of the greatest of all time."
When Chamberlain's record was snapped by a suspension, he simply started a new streak a month later, one that lasted 92 games and stood as the second-longest streak in NBA history for decades until Gilgeous-Alexander began settling in at the top.
Now, the Oklahoma City guard will have his own attempt at starting another streak against the LA Clippers on Sunday.
Key Analysis
Gilgeous-Alexander's streak underscores his remarkable consistency as one of the game's premier scorers. The fact that he prioritized team success over individual accolades speaks to his leadership and competitive nature. As he begins a new streak, all eyes will be on whether he can replicate such sustained excellence.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.